SkimIt
A Your Show of Shows for a new generation, Saturday Night Live has long since bested its predecessor in longevity (though hardly in quality). But like YSOS, SNL obviously feeds off the energy of its audience in the studio -- who clearly consider themselves part of the experience -- and across the country. SNL also takes advantage of the live format to produce highly up-to-date material. Both the "cold open" and Weekend Update segments play off events rarely older than the previous week, and these are frequently the most viral videos from the show in the days after it airs. Then again, What's Up With That? barely changes at all week to week and yet it remains eternally funny -- so topicality alone hardly explains the appeal of live TV.
